ed truly into his experience he must have seen that she changed
her mind more frequently by far than she changed her clothes. He
thought that now she meant what she said; indeed, on his own side he
really did not see how in the future Maggie and Grace could continue to
live in the same house. But, as Grace had said, he was married to
Maggie and therefore it was Grace that must go. Then when he confronted
the fact of Grace's departure he could not endure it. No, he could not.
Had Maggie been everything to him that she might have been, bad she
been his true wife, had she loved him, had she--oh! a thousand things
she might have been!--then perhaps life would be possible without
Grace. But now! ... at the thought of being alone for ever with Maggie
a strange passion, mingled of fascination and fear, affection and
sensuality, cowardice and excitement, pervaded him. What would their
life together be? Then he turned to Grace as the very rock of his
safety.

"Oh, Grace, you mustn't go--you mustn't think of going. Whatever should
I do without you?"

A dull flush of gratification coloured her cheeks.

"Either she goes or I," she repeated. "It can't go on. You must see
that it can't. Fancy what people must be thinking!"

As always, he postponed the issue. "We'll settle something. Don't you
worry, dear. You go and lie down. That's what you want--a thorough good
rest."

She plodded off. For himself he decided that fresh air was what he
needed. He went for a stroll. As soon as he was in the Charleston Road
that led to the High Street he was pleased with the day. Early spring;
mild, faint haze, trees dimly purple, a bird clucking, the whisper of
the sea stirring the warm puddles and rivulets across the damp dim
road. Warm, yes, warm and promising. Lent ... tiresome. Long services,
gloomy sermons. Rebuking people, scolding them--made them angry, did
them no good. Then Easter. That was better. Jolly hymns. "Christ is
risen! Christ is risen!" Jolly flowers--primroses, crocuses--(no, they
were earlier). They'll have forgotten about Maggie's uncle by then.
Live it down--that's the thing. Give them a good genial sermon this
Sunday. Show them he wasn't caring ... If only the women would get on
together. Women--women. How difficult they were! Yes, Sunday would be
difficult--facing them all. He knew what they'd be thinking. He wanted
to be jolly again. Jolly. That was the thing. Joking with Grace, jolly
even with Maggie. Jolly with his c